Tennessee Real Estate & Relocation Guide

Kingsport, Tennessee

Population: 44,905

Located in Sullivan County

Just a few miles from the Virginia border in the northeastern corner of the state lies the quickly growing city of Kingsport, Tennessee. Originally chartered in 1822, Kingsport acquired its name from a boatyard on the Holston River known as William King's Port. This city has enjoyed steady growth for many years, and was even named an "All-American City" in 1999.
 
Kingsport is home to Eastman Chemical Company, which employs nearly 7,500
people. The fastest growing segment of the economy is healthcare, which has
seen more than 8,000 new employs in the Kingsport MSA since 1990.
 
Kingsport is consistently one of the most affordable places to live
(www.bestplaces.net), yet offers exceptional services (internationally
accredited police and fire, for example). Kingsport was recently named the
3rd highest house appreciation rate in the U.S. by the Federal Housing
Finance Agency. Most housing is single family residential, but there is a
growing trend of downtown loft development.
 
The real estate market of Kingsport has plenty to offer the discerning
buyer. Condominiums and townhouses are available from under $100,000 to more
than $200,000. Single-family detached homes are available from well under
$100,000 to more than $625,000 for large estate properties. There are a
variety of styles to choose from too - ranch, colonial, contemporary,
traditional, Cape Cod
, farmhouses, log homes and Victorians.
 
Many homes are located on lots with outstanding views and well-manicured
lawns, while others boast large wooded lots. Some include all the extras
like fireplaces, swimming pools, Jacuzzis and whirlpool tubs. Lakeside and
riverfront properties offer scenic water views and accessible docks. Land
for custom building is readily available from $15,000 to more than $475,000.
 
 
More than 1,000,000 sf of retail space has been added since 2000. Plans are
underway for a $35 million renovation to the regional shopping mall
(Kingsport Town Center). Kingsport
has a widely-acclaimed public art initiative, which has seen the
installation of numerous sculptures in public spaces mostly in the downtown
area.
 
Kingsport has a rich history of educational excellence. The original town
educational plan was developed by Columbia University (1917) and the
standards have been maintained since. For example, Kingsport was recently
named in Newsweek's list of Top 4 percent of American Public High Schools.
The local marching band is the largest in Tennessee with nearly 400
students. They are the Governor's Cup Champions and have routinely
represented Tennessee in the Macy's, Rose, and Fiesta Parades. A higher
education initiative began in 1999 whereby all graduating high school
seniors are eligible for two free years of tuition to the local community
college. As a result, the college age population increased 26% between 2000
and 2007
(Census Bureau). Kingsport was recently noted in a Johns Hopkins report that
cited Tennessee as posting the highest gains in higher education, citing
Kingsport as a model.
 
Kingsport has always been an innovator, and that started in the early
1900's. Kingsport was one of the first cities to implement a school system
based on a model developed at Columbia University. It was also the first
city with a modern urban design and was among the first municipalities to
have a city manager form of government. Kingsport soon became known as the
"Model City" and has kept its progressive reputation to this day.
 
Located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Kingsport offers a
multitude of attractions and recreational opportunities. Residents have
access to one hundred square miles of water, 1,500 miles of shoreline and
numerous caverns and hiking trails to explore.
 
 
For outdoor activities, visitors can head to Warrior's Path State Park.
Named for its proximity to an ancient Cherokee war and trading path, the
950-acre park combines nature and wildlife conservation with entertainment.
Kingsport has a 1400-member senior center, a 3,500 acre nature preserve, a
brand new planetarium (one of only 2 in North Amerca), a $12mm aquatic
center planned, and an 8-mile greenbelt trail traversing the community.
 
Bays Mountain Park, owned and operated by the city of Kingsport, encompasses
several thousand acres of untouched woodlands. Surrounded on all sides by
mountains, the park features a 44-acre lake, a nature center and museum, a
3,000-acre outdoor classroom and a wolf habitat. From wildflower viewing in
the spring to cross-country skiing in winter, outdoor recreation is popular
year-round at Bays Mountain Park.
 
River Front Park, also known as Boat Yard Park, is a National Historic
Landmark and is home to the Long Island of the Holston River. A swinging
footbridge connects visitors to picnic tables, a fishing pier, playground
equipment and a five-mile bike and footpath. Water lovers can seek out one
of Kingsport's numerous other bodies of water, including Holston, Patrick
Henry and Boone lakes. The lakes are prime for fishing, boating, jet skiing,
swimming and parasailing.
 
In 2008, Kingsport was one of three cities to receive the Siemens
Sustainable Communities Award through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Civic
Leadership Center. Kingsport recently won an "Ozzie" Award for obtaining the
first LEED certified publicly-funded
higher education building in Tennessee.
 
Kingsport has a 3,500 nature
preserve and planetarium on Bays Mountain and is currently assembling nearly
5,000 acres of wetlands along creekways throughout the city. The City
government is also pursuing energy efficiencies by use of "on call" trash
collection (using GPS technology). Kingsport is also a multi-year award
winner for Keep America Beautiful and Tree City USA. The local watershed
received a near perfect score by www.bestplaces.net
<http://www.bestplaces.net>
 
Kingsport hosts a variety of unique celebrations year-round. Fun Fest - a
nine-day community event featuring a beach party and balloon races - kicks
off in July, while September brings both the Fall Festival and the Downtown
Kingsport Art and Crafts Festival. Kingsport starts the year off right with
First Night, a family-oriented downtown New Year's Eve celebration featuring
singers, magicians, comedians, clowns, storytellers, and various other
artists and entertainers.
Kingsport's largest annual event is Fun Fest (www.funfest.net), which has
consistently been named a Top 20 Southern Festival. New events include
"Bluegrass on Broad" on Thursday nights (May-Sep) and "Twilight Alive" on
Friday nights for the non-bluegrass fans. Kingsport is widely known as "the
volunteer city in the Volunteer State". Kingsport's United Way collected
more than $4,000,000 in pledges during 2008 in a year when most campaigns
struggled to meet their goals.
 
 
Kingsport is known for its high quality of life. The Kingsport Public School
System has received the Governor's A+ award for community commitment to
excellence in education.
 
The city itself has received international awards for public information
products and offers its residents a comfortable standard of living, thanks
to its large industrial base.
 
With a delightful mix of steady growth, economic stability and Southern
hospitality, Kingsport is a perfect hometown for families and businesses
alike. If Kingsport is in your future, then it certainly is looking bright!